New bathroom pipes groaning

Jmoo

Hi all

Just had a new bathroom installed by a local plumber and it's come to (almost) completion. I've paid up most of the money, but I've held on to some as the pipes are groaning every time the shower is turned on.

Understandably they're not keen to investigate this, although have offered to iron out the snags.

I've been asking when they're coming back to complete, but they are obviously keen to move on now they've done the main work, and keep asking for the money remaining.

I've pointed out to them I'd like them to check over the noise, but they aren't keen to discuss.

Should I be concerned every morning the shower pipes make a noise? Is it something I should push them on before paying up completely?

Lorian

Where does the noise come from?

If you run the shower in to a bucket or bowl does it make the same noise?

Electric shower or off hot water, pumped?

Jmoo

Seems to be below the shower where the piping is as I can hear it in the kitchen from upstairs (it's directly below). It's a mains powered one.

MikeJXE

It sounds to me as the pipes get hot they are sliding on wood and creaking, a common fault if pipes are no secured properly 

ThisIsWeird

Or if the pipes are in firm contact with joists, for example.
Jmoo, does the shower have to be running hot before it starts, or does the noise begin a soon as it's turned on? And is it a stuttering groan? If you place your palm face down on your worktop, pressing firmly, and then slowly push-slide your hand away from you, is it a bit like that?
Does it stop after a few minutes?
To get to these pipes, what would need lifting - the floor...? I suspect it would be a bit of a 'mare, hence their reluctance to go there. 
Can you live with it?! It might become less obvious over time. 

Jmoo

I think it's okay - I just don't want to not flag it up if it's set to become a bigger issue.

It starts as soon as the shower is switched on, but will stop after a minute.

I suspect the next door neighbour won't thank me at 6am (their bedroom is next door) but I can live with it if that's all it is.

ThisIsWeird

Jmoo said:

I think it's okay - I just don't want to not flag it up if it's set to become a bigger issue.

It starts as soon as the shower is switched on, but will stop after a minute.

I suspect the next door neighbour won't thank me at 6am (their bedroom is next door) but I can live with it if that's all it is.

If it starts pretty much right away, then it's more likely to be a rubbing hot water pipe than the waste pipe.

That's assuming it is down to pipe expansion. If so, it's annoyingly common, and definitely annoying - that creak/tick/groan. But otherwise harmless.

Any chance of a sound clip - perhaps via YouTube?

There are other possibilities, such as too high a mains water pressure causing a roar or hissssss, but we'd need to hear it.